Corn-cutter



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1. 0. G. & S. P. DEMING.

CORN GUTTER.

No. 480,004. Patented June 10, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. G. an s. P. DBMING.

CORN CUT-TER.

No. 430,004. Patented June l0, 1890.

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al@ (zy/.Zawzg and, MMM@ gym/PZW ddii following is a specification.

UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE.A

CALEB G. DEMING AND SMITH P. DEMING, OF PLEASANTON, KANSAS.

CORN-CUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 430,004, dated June 10, 1890. Application filed November '7, 1889. Serial No. 329.590. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, CALEB G. DEMING and SMITH P. DEMING, citizens of the United States, residing at Pleasanton, in the county of Linn and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Corn-Cutter, of which the Our invention relates to improvements in corn-harvesters; and it consistsin certain novel features, hereinafter described and claimed.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved corn-harvester. Fig. 2 is a side view ofthe same with one .wheel removed, showing the manner of dumping the corn. Fig. 3 is a detail view y showing the manner of holding the dumpingplatform in a horizontal position. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the front end of the machine. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan View of the same.

In carrying out our invention we employ a main platform A, having the brackets or projections B near its front end, in which the rotary caster-wheels C are mounted. The side rails D of the platform are extended rearward, and to the ends of the same are pivoted the sides of the dumping-platform E. The carrying-WheelsFaremountedonstud-axles G, which are formed on plates pivoted to the sides of the dumping-platform and adjustably secured thereto by bolts 2, passing through slots 3 in the plates 4, on which the axles are formed. The platform is provided with a central ridge H, from which the upper side of the platform inclines outward and rearward to the edges of the same. This construction of the platform facilitates the dumping and handling of the shocks when the machine is in use. On the upper side of the mainplatform near the front edge of the same we erect the standards I, provided with transverse openings J in their upper ends, and on the upper side of the dumping-platform and at the side edges of the same we erect the standards K K, as shown. Rails L are secured tothe lower ends of the standards K, and extend forward so as to engage the inner sides of the standards I, and thereby prevent sidewise movement of the dumping-platform. To the upper ends of the standards K we secure the rails M, which extend forward to the standards Land are pro- -ing of the platform.

` drawings. `its upper edge at its center with a notch R, `and this notch is normally engaged by a sup- 1 porting-bar S, which has its front end secured to a standard T, rising from the front edge of Lthe dumping-platform at the center of the vided at their ends with outwardly-proj ecting pins N, which are adapted to engage the openings J, and thereby prevent accidental dump- The rear uprights K are provided on their outer sides at their rear ends with the hooks or keepers O, and these keepers are engaged by loops O2, formed at the ends of hoops or rails P, extending across the rear end of the machiiie. These hoops may be held in place by having both ends engaged in the keepers O; but we prefer to 'secure one end of the hoop to the adjacent upright by a staple Q, so as to prevent loss of the hoop, and have so illustrated it in the The upper hoop P is provided in same, as clearly shown. The bar S, which is held from lateral displacement by the notch R, serves as a rest against which the upper ends of the cornstalks may be supported until it shall be desired to tie the shock.

The stationary platform is provided at its center with the forwardly-projecting and upwardly-bent plate U, which serves as a support for the guiding-arms V, which are secured to the said plate and extend forward therefrom and then upward and backward over the platform in a substantially U shape. To the front upper edge of the plate U we hinge the guard W, which is adapted to eX- tend backward over the rotary cutters and y serve as a shield to prevent injury to the cutters and also as a guard to prevent the operator stepping on and being maimed by the cutters.

To the main platform we secure the stationary knives or cutters X, which project forward therefrom, and adjacent to the front ends of these cutters we -provide the rotary cutters Y, as shown. As t-he machine is drawn along, therstalks are directed to the cutters by the guide-arms, and the said cutters sever the same. The rotary cutters are mounted in brackets Z, which are adj ustably secured to the platform, so that they can be adjusted to and away from the stationary cutters, as will be readily understood.

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The whiffletrees a are attached to the front ends of the cords l), which have their rear ends secured to pins c on the sides of the main platform, their intermediate portions passing around pulleys (Z on the ends of the doubletree e, which is pivoted on the bottom of the main platform. rlhe horses are harnessed to the shafts f, which are secured to the spindles of the caster-wheels C, and the machine is steered by the shafts and easterwheels. The pivoted doubletree acts as a draft-equalizer, so that the machine will be drawn along steadily and evenly.

In practice the machine is drawn over the field in the usual manner, the horses walking between two rows and two rows being between the horses. The stalks in the rows between the horses will be engaged by the guidearms and directed to the cutters and severed by the said cutters. They are then grasped by the operators on the lnain platform, and when a sufficient quantity has been gathered a third operatoi; on the dumpingplatform forms them into a shock and rests the shock against the supporting-bar. The loops O2 at the ends of the hoops P are disengaged from the keepers or hooks O, the rails are released from the standards I, and the platform is then dumped, so that the shock will fall to the ground in rear of the machine. The dumping-platform is then restored to its former position, the rails again engaged with the standards I, the ends of the hoops inserted in the keepers, and the machine drawn along as before.

The hoops may be manipulated in the manner described, partly owing to their natural flexibility and partly because they are hinged so loosely upon the staples Q that no diilieulty will be experienced in disengaging their opposite ends from or attaching them tothe hooks O, as may be desired.

Freni the foregoing description it will be seen that we have provided a very simple corn-cutting machine, in which the stalks will be eifectually severed and be positively directed to the cutters and in which the bundles or shocks may be formed and then dumped at stated points along the field.

While we have shown and described our machine as adapted to act on two rows of corn, it will involve no departure from our invention to decrease its width, so that it will act on only one row.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of the main platform having the standards I, provided with the openings J, the dumpingplatform hinged thereto and having standards on its upper side, and the rails secured to said standards and provided at their front ends with outwardly-projecting pins adapted to engage the openings J, as set forth.

2. The combination of a dumping-platform, the rails supported thereon, the hoops removably attached to said rails at the rear, the standard at the front edge of the dumpingplatform, and the supporting-bar secured to said standard and resting on the upper hoop, as set forth.

3. The combination of the platform, the doubletree pivoted on the under side of the same and having pulleys at its ends, the whifiietrees, and the cords passing around the pulleys and having their front ends secured to the whiffletrees andtheir rear ends secured to the sides of the platform, as set forth.

4. The combination of the platform, the cutters mounted thereon, the forwardly-extending npwardly-bent plate secured to the platform between the cutters, and the guard hinged to the front edge of said plate and adapted to extend rearwardly over the cutters, as set forth.

5. A corn-harvester provided with a dumping-platform having a floor provided with a longitudinally-disposed ridge from which the said floor slants rearwardly and outwardly, and a longitudinally-disposed supporting-bar above the ridge, as set forth.

G. In a corn-harvester, the main platform carrying the cutting mechanism and provided with side casters, combined with the dumping-platform pivoted horizontally tothe main platform and provided with means to lock and release the dumping-platform, and the supporting-wheels carried by the dumpingplatform, as set forth.

7. In a corn-harvester, the main platform carrying the cutting mechanism and provid ed with side casters, combined with the dumping-platform pivoted horizontally to the main platform and provided with means to lock and release the dumping-platform, and the supporting wheels mounted on adj ustablypivoted plates carried by the dumping-platform, as set forth.

S. In a corn-harvester, the main platform carrying the cutting mechanism and provided with supporting-casters, combined with the dumping-platform hinged horizontally to the rear end of the main platform and provided with supporting-wheels, the rails extended forward from the dumping-platform and provided with locking means to engage the main platform, the removable hoops closing the rear end of the dumping-platform, and the locking-bar S to engage the hoops, for the purpose set forth.

9. In a corn-harvester, the main platform carrying the cutting mechanism and provided with the side casters, combined with the dumping-platform pivoted to the main platform and provided with means to lock and release the dumping-platform, and the supportingwheels carried by the dumping-platform, the said platform having its upper side elevated above the plane of the door of the main plat form and inclining downward from the eenter both laterally outward and rearward, as Set forth.

10. In a corn-harvester, the stationary plat- IOO IIO

form provided at each side with the duplicate sets of inclined rigid and circular rotaryk finally backward over the platform, as setI forth.

11. The combination of the platform, the doubletree pivoted on the under side of the same and having pulleys at its ends, the whifetrees, and the cords passing around the pulleys and having their front ends secured to the whiffletrees and their rear ends secured to the sides of the platform, the caster-wheels mounted thereon at each side, the shafts secured to the spindle of the easter-wheels, and the cutting mechanism carried by the platform and mounted between the shafts, as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto afiixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

CALEB G. DEMING. SMlTH P. DEMING. Witnesses:

C. S. ATKINs, N. W. BARNETT. 

